Social media verifications are highly coveted but ever elusive. While it seems like these marks mysteriously appear overnight, that isn’t always the case. Brands or people may sometimes be verified without any effort, but more often than not, they must apply to receive the designation.
Social media verification shows that your business means, well, business. It’s a way to make you stand out and establish your credibility so you can instantly gain the trust and support of users. It’ll be easier to collaborate with other content creators, and your content is easier to find on the platforms that you’re verified on.
That’s why in instances where a company might be well-known and at a higher risk of being impersonated, social media companies might just give them the verification without any effort on the individual’s or business’s part.
Table of contents
How to get verified
There isn’t one standard way to apply for verifications, and each platform has a different set of rules as well. Furthermore, a platform can have different levels of verifications, and it’s important to keep in mind that verification on one platform doesn’t mean you’ll get it for all of them.
Let’s talk about how to apply for verifications and the different options you have for your pages.
Facebook allows you to verify your business page in two different ways. The first doesn’t come with a page badge but still helps to improve your page’s rank and lets users know you’re a real business.
Start the verification process by going through the Security Center in your Facebook Business Manager.
From there, you will need to:
-
-
- Enter your business details.
- Select your business type from the list or select “None of these match.” If your business isn’t listed on the site, you will need to upload official documents in order to complete the process.
- Confirm your business details and select a phone number that you have access to in order to get your verification code. You can receive this code via text message, phone call, or email. (Note: another route for this step would be to verify your business domain, but you only need to do one.)
- Enter your verification code and submit your application for approval.
-
Facebook created a step-by-step guide for applying and a list of common reasons why businesses might not be approved. Approval can take a few days, and you or your page administrator will receive a notification on your personal Facebook page.
You can also apply for a blue verification checkmark, but this designation can be harder to obtain since the criteria is more selective. Facebook looks to give those badges to pages that are well-known, often searched individuals or brands. But even then, this seems to be a “some, but not all” criteria, and there are no specific metrics or guidelines to help you gauge where you fall.
In December, Twitter paused its verification approvals until further notice and announced new requirements, so you will have to keep your eye out to see when you might be able to apply. These changes aim to make the designation more widely available for users, so here’s what you can expect when the time comes to apply:
You’ll be asked to provide at least two websites and up to 500 words about why your page should be verified. You should also double-check that the email address or phone number connected to your account is confirmed.
Once you apply, you can expect to hear back from Twitter in about a week.
Though Facebook owns Instagram, you will need to verify your page separately, and the platform can be selective about who they verify.
To submit your application, log into your account and click the hamburger menu in the top right of your profile page. From there, you can find the application in Settings > Account > Request Verification. You will need to attach a photo of an official business document, like a tax filing, recent utility bill, or an article of incorporation, before submitting your application.
If rejected, you can reapply for verification after 30 days. Additionally, you can continue to post engaging content and information to show off your work and build your following, which can help when you reapply.
YouTube
Users can be verified on YouTube in two different ways. The first is verifying your account. Like many other platforms discussed above, you will need to have a cell phone number tied to the account. This not only affirms the authenticity of your channel but gives you access to other features, like uploading videos longer than 15 minutes, adding customized thumbnails, and hosting live streams.
Once you submit your application, approval should be immediate.
The second option is to have your page itself verified. However, in order to apply, you will need to have at least 100,000 subscribers.
Planning ahead
While verifying your social accounts may not be possible on all platforms, it doesn’t hurt to go through the application process to see if you get approved. With the stringent requirements of some applications, it may take some consistency and follow-up to get over the final hurdles.
That’s why having a solid social media strategy is so important. Growing your online presence can seem daunting and time-consuming, but putting together a social media strategy can help make it easier to thoughtfully plan your content and meet your goals within your specific capabilities. That’s one thing we can verify for you on the spot!
